By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Jenn Anne Gledhill
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p516917019 and https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p101985300 **
ORLAND PARK— The turf field here at Sandburg High School is a maze swathed in colors and drama, and a mass of bodies moving fast in every direction.
A running back for the five-to-seven year-old Green team breaks free on the right edge and runs untouched into the north end zone.
The Orland Park Pioneers kicked off their historic 50th anniversary season with a special Homecoming day on Sunday, September 6, with a special two-hour showcase for the nascent flag program.
The flag program is composed of two age groups of four color-coded teams—Blue, Red, Green and Yellow.
On this special morning, the Yellow is facing off against the Green, and the Red is taking on the Blue.
The first thing that stands out are the sheer numbers. The eight teams across the two age groups have 101 players. Each team has a minimum of three volunteer coaches.
This is the second year featuring the older eight to 10-year old group. The popularity has soared, according to flag coordinator Marty Groark.
“The tackle program for the older group filled up so quickly, and still there were so many kids who wanted to play football,” he said. “The first year we had to cut off registration because we had so many players sign up early.
“Next year we’re probably going to have to expand to five or six teams because there’s already a huge waitlist,” Groark said. “I think the kids have fun, we take care of them, and we give them a football experience.”
The players wear protective head gear, and the players who want to make the transition to tackle are encouraged.
The flag program is an extension of the Pioneers’ tackle program. The coaches emphasize traditional football, with assigned positions and blocking.
“Five is really the lowest age where the kids start,” Groark said. “There aren’t a lot of five-year olds playing tackle. They get the basics, they move on, and some of these kids don’t want to play tackle.”
The teams play a six-week Saturday schedule at Schlosser Park. Each roster averages 11-14 players. The teams play 8-on-8. The Pioneer league is strictly intramural, and the teams alternate playing each other.
Scores are maintained. Standings are not. On the final weekend of the season, a special “Flag Bowl,” brings together a bracketed tournament based on random seeds. The two winners will play for the championship, and the losing programs in a consolation game.
It’s hard to keep a good program down, and the word of mouth and strong reputation suggests the flag program is not a fad. Just the opposite, it is blowing up on all sides.
“Last year was the first year of the older division, and we got double the kids,” Groark said. “This is my fourth year running the flag program. When I started we had 40 kids.
“Now we’re over 100 kids for the second year in a row. I don’t think it’s going to burn out. These kids are sticking with it, they’re recruiting their friends and neighbors. They’re having fun.”
The Flag Football Pioneers Cheerleaders were also in attendance bright and early as part of the traditional participation of Homecoming. They included Natalie Schulte, Olivia Machart, Savannah Petrucci, Isabelle Peterson, Tenly Morack, Alexa Del Valle, Brooke Busking, Kara Vuolo,Arianna Martinez, Angel Robinson, Reagan Repa and Lainey Becht
